Notes. 195 



By the end of September the herd of cattle had been reduced to 

 80 head as a result of the transfers of breeding stock to other training- 

 farms. The jield of milk at the time of writing would approximate 

 90 gallons per diem. 



Early in the spring, a young orchard of 1100 trees comprising 

 about equal numbers of apricots, peaches, and prune trees was 

 planted, and the vineyard enlarged by another 3000 vines. In addi- 

 tion about 2 acres of land have been planted to turkish tobacco. It 

 is proposed to develop these branches of farming in order to afford a 

 better general training for all students. 



The soil at Elsenburg is not as suitable for the growing of the 

 varieties of fruit mentioned as that of Mariendahl. Further, it is 

 considered that in the future Mariendahl farm, as an adjunct of 

 Elsenburg, should be run as a commercial unit, and that the experi- 

 mental and investigational work in field, orchard, and vineyard, 

 should be confined to Elsenburg. Such an arrangement would be of 

 great educational value to future farmers of this part of the country. 



Wheat Growing in South Africa. 



Wheat growing in our country presents problems both of a 

 cultural and economic nature, and the report* of the Departmental 

 Committee appointed by the Minister of Agriculture to inquire into 

 the conditions of wheat growing in the Union gives a comprehensive 

 view of the subject. It is dealt with in relation to the whole 

 farming system in our wheat-growing areas, and constitutes therefore 

 a permanent record of a considerable part of our agriculture, for 

 wheat is the most important of all the autumn and winter-sown cereal 

 crops in the IJnion, and ranks second to maize in the value of farm 

 crops produced in South Africa. The Committee's duties consisted of 

 (a) an educational campaign and (b) an economic investigation, so 

 that the evidence obtained from the large number of interviewed 

 people experienced in the several branches of the subject and the 

 findings of the Committee, together with the statistical and technical 

 data included in the report, form a valuable work. 



The report deals with the factors affecting production in the 

 various areas of the IJnion capable of wheat cultivation; comments on 

 difficulties of transportation and labour; outlines the work of the 

 Department of Agriculture in assisting wheat growers by experiments, 

 seed breeding, distribution of pure seed. etc. ; gives the miller's point 

 of view ; describes the system of marketing with the need for an inde- 

 pendent system of rural finance for the agricultural industry, etc. 

 The absence of uniformity of grades receives attention, and certain 

 remedies are suggested. The influence of the war on local wheat 

 production, the increased cost thereof, and the war measures adopted 

 in other countries to increase wheat production, are also referred to. 

 Altogether, a great deal of important information and advice is g-iven 

 in the report, which should prove most valuable to the farmer, the 

 student, and others concerned in the position of the Union as regards 

 its production of that vital article — the bread of the people. 



*" Report of the Departmental Committee on Wheat Growing." U.G. 4"2. 1910; 

 price 6s. fid. ; obtainable from the Government Printer. Pretoria. 



